Oppurtunity~

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.  ~ Edith Lovejoy Pierce


What is your New Year's resolution going to be for 2011?  I don't make them for myself, but it is fun sometimes to hear other people's .  I guess I always thought I had enough trouble keeping straight about what I'm doing today, much less the rest of an entire year! I like the quote above.  Especially the part about the blank pages.  When I was a little girl, I loved to go in the art supply store, and just stand in the aisle with all the paper.  The BLANK paper.  It was intoxicating!  All the opportunities!  If I'd had the chance and the finances at that young age, I'm sure I'd have kept Hobby Lobby in business myself.  A blank space just begs us to put something in it.  So far, 2011 is blank. Not one evil thought , action, or deed, fills its spaces.  It would be wonderful if it could stay that way, but the problem is, I'm sure that someone is already working on a way to spoil the freshness, and we have no control over that.  What we can control, is what will we bring to this new year?  Will we improve or poison it?  Will we take the opportunity offered of the blank spaces, to bring joy and love to it?  Or will we cover our blank pages in something harsh and negative?  I'm starting today.  Not with a resolution, but with hope that every day I make my part in this new year the best it can be.


Here's to blank spaces~ Ruby Jeanette

The Jonquils~

Just
Over the
Next hill,
Quietly resting,
Underneath the ,
Icy ground,
Lay the jonquils.


Bulbs ,
Unscathed by
Long winter days,
Bearing the promise of
Spring.


Thinking of Spring~ Ruby Jeanette

Believe~

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge-  myth is more potent than facts-  hope always triumphs over experience-  laughter is a cure for grief-  and love is stronger than death.  ~ Robert Fulghum

What do you believe?  I don't mean the things you tell people you believe.  I mean when grief, and death have stripped you down to the very bare of who you are.  When your world has fallen so far from the way you knew it.   When a person you love has been stricken with some terrible disease,  or someone you love is suddenly taken from you.  What do you believe then?  It is easy to say, in times of personal peace, "Oh , I do believe in hope!"  It is easy to tell others in a time of prosperity,  "I do thank God for what HE has given me."  When I was very young, I was quite sickly.  As I grew older , maybe ages 9 through 14, I was very healthy.  How easily I forgot !  To be grateful for health!  When we are young we take for granted these things.  When I was about 14, I got desperately ill. I got diagnosed with mononucleosis, and could never seem to get over it.  By the time I was 16, the doctors did not know what was wrong with me.   I saw doctor, after doctor, and it was finally decided that I was just a mental case, and maybe I just needed anti -depressants.  Let me tell you, you find out so much about yourself, and what you actually believe in a time like that !  I found out I don't believe in fate.  But I do believe in God's will.  I don't believe in perpetual happiness.  But I do believe in joy.  I don't believe in pity.  But I do believe in compassion.  I believe in hope.  I believe in eventual triumph.  I don't believe in asking "why?"  I do believe in asking "why not?"  God has granted me no exceptions from suffering, but HE has granted me strength, and hopefully, grace in the face of it.  I can't be happy all the time, but I can have lasting peace.  So, if you are experiencing a time of personal pain, or hardship, try to remember what it is that you really believe, and remind your self every day:It came to pass, it didn't come to stay. 

Here's to finding out~ Ruby Jeanette

Warthog Cupcake Recipe~

Cupcake Recipe for Humans~
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup self -rising flour
1/2 cup baking powder

1.Beat butter and sugar together until light and creamy.
2. Add one egg and beat well.
3. Add the other egg with a spoonfull of flour, and beat.
4. Sift the remaining flour and baking powder together.
5. Mix lightly into the creamed mixture.
6. Put big spoonfuls into ten cupcake pans.
7. Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.
8. Turn out onto a cookie sheet to cool.
9. Decorate with some frosting.
10. Serve to your very favorite people.



Cupcake Recipe for Warthogs~

4 scoops of sugar, use any scoop you can find- sand shovels work great
5 scoops of butter- if you don't have butter, use chocolate syrup
2 eggs- some warthogs like to remove the shells first
7 scoops of flour- see who can get the most flour on their nose
Add anything else you can find in the pantry: pickles, peanut butter, mustard.  Brussel Sprouts taste especially nice.


1. Wash hooves.
2. Tell your friends they can help.
3. Put sugar in the bowl, add butter. Go play tag with your friends.
4. Remove any stray teddy bears you find in the bowl.
5. Throw eggs into a bowl- throw as many as you want, but the warthog that gets two in the bowl first is the winner.
6. Add the flower- buttercups, dandelions-wait a minute-we mean"flour', of course!
7. Put the mixture into cupcake pans.  Warthog Little League pitchers are very good at this.
8. Lick bowl. Lick the measuring spoons. Lick the countertop.
Lick the recipe book.  Lick your friends.
9.Cook cakes until you can't wait any more.
10. Eat cakes quickly before they are stolen by your teddy bear.



Just for fun~ Ruby Jeanette


Taken from the book Warthogs in the Kitchen by edwards and cole

Glow- worms~

We are all worms.  But, I do believe I am a glow -worm.  ~ Winston Churchill

Have you ever felt like a worm?  Maybe you said or did something totally beneath you.  Maybe someone did something, or said something to you, to make you feel like a worm.  People can say the most terrible things to each other.  Even worse, they say and do the most terrible things to themselves.  That is really the most damaging of the two.  When another person hurts you, the hurt does not seem to last as long, but when we hurt ourselves, it never really goes away.  I think that is probably why the verse in the Bible says, " and the second is like unto it.  Love thy neighbor as thyself. "   Did you know , if you don't love yourself, it is practically impossible to love anyone else?  We taint others intentions, and thoughts through our perception of our own self worth.  But , here is something else to consider. We are all worms.  We have fallen in sin, but we have been redeemed!  That makes us glow -worms!  Don't look down on yourself, and fall into the pit of self -blame, and self -rejection.  JESUS paid on the cross, so we didn't have to feel like worthless, ordinary worms.  So, GLOW ON!

Here's to glowing brighter~  Ruby Jeanette

The Best Day Ever....

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

 Whew!  We can all breathe a sigh of relief now, Christmas is over!  I'm not a Scrooge by any stretch of the imagination,  but if you have children you can't help but be glad that it is done for one more year.  So we have a brand new year rolling in upon us, very soon.  It's amazing to think it is the year 2011!  That sounds like the stuff of science fiction, the 21st century, no less.  I don't make New Year 's resolutions as  I think it's best to try to improve your life every day, and not just make a statement about your intentions at the first of the year.  It's really only between us and God where we need to make improvement anyway.  But, I love the whole idea of the fresh slate.  Really , though, God grants us one of those anytime we need it, and not just when a new year, or a new day, rolls around. That's an awesome thought!  With Christ, every day truly is the best day in the year!  So make up your mind, that from this moment on, you will thank God, for every new moment, new day, new year, and do your best to make each one the best that you can, with His help!

Here's to a clean slate~  Ruby Jeanette

A Special Day~

Christmas is a special day ,
To spend with all your friends,
The family comes , the food is great,
The laughter never ends.

And although these things are wonderful,
And good memories surround,
Let us always keep the Reason ,
That Christmas is around.

So join your friends and family,
And say a special prayer,
To thank the Reason for the Season,
That you all have gathered there.

Christmas is a special day,
So let us all remember,
That JESUS loves us , all year through,
And not just in December!


Have yourself a Merry little Christmas~  Ruby Jeanette

Twas the Night Before Jesus Came~

Twas the night before Jesus came, and all through the house,
Not a creature was praying , not one in the house.
The Bibles were lain on the shelf without care,
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker, with baby on her lap,
Was watching the Late Show, while I took a nap.

When out of the east, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here!
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,
I knew in a moment this must be the day.

The light of His face made me cover my head,
It was Jesus returning just like He said.
And though I possessed worldy wisdom and wealth,
I cried when I saw Him, in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life, which He held in His hand,
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name.
When He said"It's not here." , my head hung in shame.

The people whose name had been written in love,
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without sound,
While all of the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees , but it was too late!
I had waited too long, and this sealed my fate.
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight,
Oh , if only I had been ready tonight!

In the words of the Bible ,the meaning is clear,
The coming of Jesus is drawing quite near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call,
We'll find that the Bible was right after all.


Author Unknown~
Here's to being ready~Ruby Jeanette

It's How Much?!!

The most expensive Christmas gifts this year are:


2011 NME Camaro~ $75,000
Barbie Foosball Table~  $25,000
Three-wheeled Scooter~ $7,000
Macallan 64 Scotch in Lalique Decanter~ $460,000
Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra~ $2million
iPhone 4 Diamond Rose~ $8million
Tiffany Majestic Necklace~$12 million



Seriously? How many people could you clothe, feed, give shelter to, and reach for Christ , for this amount of money?  If America is not close to Sodom and Gomorrah in the excess and selfishness department, then we must be close by now!  That is all I have to say about that.



What were they thinking?~ Ruby Jeanette

Truth in Advertising

We all wish for truth in advertising. Especially from the pharmaceutical industry.  There is not much truth in their advertising these days.  They are still snake oil salesmen, profiting from other people's suffering.  In November of 1905 one of these patent medicine men sent Mark Twain a letter including his advertising leaflet for his medicine "The Elixir of Life", which claimed to , among other things, cure meningitis, which killed Twain's daughter in 1896, and diptheria, which killed his 19 month old son.  Following here is his letter to that salesman.  Read it and laugh, and then read it again, and say as I did,  "Hooray, Mr. Twain!   Hooray! "



Nov.20,1905

J.H. Todd
1212 Webster Street
San Francisco, Cal


Dear Sir,
                 Your letter is an insoluble puzzle to me.  The handwriting is good, and exhibits considerable characher, and there are even traces of intelligence in what you say, yet the letter and the accompanying advertisements profess to be the work of the same hand.  The person who wrote the advertisements is without doubt the most ignorant person now alive on the planet; also without doubt he is an idiot, an idiot of the 33rd degree, and scion of an ancestral procession of idiots , stretching back to the Missing Link.  It puzzles me to make out how the same hand could have constructed your letter and your advertisements.  Puzzles fret me,  puzzles annoy me, puzzles exasperate me, and always for a moment , they arouse in me an unkind state of mind toward the person who has puzzled me.   A few moments from now my resentment will have faded and passed and I shall probably even be praying for you;  but while there is yet time I hasten to wish that you may take a dose of your own poison by mistake , and enter swiftly into the damnation which you and all other patent medicine assassins have so remorselessly earned and do so richly deserve.

Adieu! Adieu!  Adeiu!

Mark Twain



Here's to a little more truth~  Ruby Jeanette

Only Four Days

Only four days until Christmas,
Will I ever get it done?
The food is bought, the gifts are wrapped,
And all the lights are strung.

Only four days until Christmas,
But there's something left to do,
To stop and thank the Lord,
For all HE's given me and you.

Only four days until Christmas,
But let us not forget,
That JESUS came at Christmas,
And HE was the greatest gift.


Here's to remembering why~ Ruby Jeanette

Winter Weather

The winter weather snaps like a quilt,
Outside on the clothesline.
Wind pops like the sound ,
Of acorns hitting
The dead-leaf covered ground.
Green is gone.
Black and gray are the colors of winter.
God sends the quiet cover of this season,
The busy-ness of summer gone,
The work of growth, to come in the spring.
Rest, sweet rest....
Creation of earth,
And Christ will work anew.


Here's to the quiet of winter~ Ruby Jeanette

What Does It Mean?

Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before.  What if Christmas, he thought , doesn't come from a store.  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.  ~Dr. Seuss


Stables are smelly places.  I used to raise horses, when I was younger.  Even clean stables don't smell all that great to people who aren't used to that kind of thing.  Childbirth is not really all that romantic either.  It's a screaming , squalling, messy process.  We want our Christmas scenes to be the pastel, air- brushed ones we see on the Christmas cards every year.  But , really the scene was not anything like that.  Bethlehem was filled to bursting with people come to register for the census, and pay taxes.  So the town was probably full of government tax officers too.   Imagine , a town full of the IRS!  Mary was full to bursting too.  Imagine how tired and weary she must have been!  No room! No room! No room at the inn! Finally, the stable.  Camels, cows, sheep, goats, horses, oxen, all the animals belonging to the innkeeper and those staying with him. Finally, the time arrives, and Mary gives birth to the Saviour, the King of all creation. Not in a palace , full of servants to herald the news, but heralded by the very host of the heavens , to some of the lowest people on earth.  What does this mean to you?  What does it mean to me?  That from the highest HE came, to the lowest ,  to save us! HE left the splendour of His Father's house to be lain among the sheep.  The wonder of this never ceases to amaze!  What if Christmas doesn't come from a store?  What if Christmas is something more?  How should we live if we remember it every day, and keep it in our hearts all year?  

Here's to a stable , the LAMB, and the GREAT SHEPHERD~   Ruby Jeanette

Playing Santa

We had a really good morning this morning.  We went and played Santa to some of our friends grandkids.  They are 8, 6, 4, and 2.  It was great to show the boys that Christmas is really about giving to others.  We let them pick out the toys to give away, and hand them out.  The other children were so excited!  It felt awesome to be able to do that for someone else.  I'm sure they will receive gifts from their grandparents also.  But, I wanted to let our boys see how wonderful it felt to choose a gift, and then to give it away, not to keep it.  I hope we can raise them to be generous, and see the needs in others lives, and realize how very blessed they are.  I think we could probably all benefit from giving to others a little more, I know I sure could.  When you are sick , it is easy to get caught up in yourself , and not see that the world goes roughly for someone around you.  I pray every day that God will open our eyes to people in need, and that He gives us opportunity to show His love to someone.  Because that is truly the greatest gift of all.

Here's to giving it away~ Ruby Jeanette

In Your Heart...

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. ~ Mother Teresa

As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.


Judgement and love are at opposite ends of the spectrum in the human heart.  You can't love someone and still be their judge.  I heard something interesting the other day, from our associate pastor.   We were talking about the verse that I printed above.  Brother Jon says that most people assume the verse means that the way you think in your heart determines where you are going in life, and what kind of person you will be.   But he said the reality of this verse is that , as a man thinketh in is heart, so is he already.  The way you think in your heart , is the person and the place you are now.   So, where am I , in my heart, right now?  Do I carry love or judgement for my fellow men?  We don't have time for both.  Where am I putting most of my time?  In worrying about other people's actions, or turning my own over to the Lord?  My Grandpa used to say, "You worry about rowing your own boat, and let everyone else worry about rowing theirs."  I have no business judging other people's hearts anyway.  God is in that business.  I only want to make sure , that I spend my time loving people, and making sure that the thoughts in my heart today, are making me the person God wants me to be.

Here's to a change of heart~ Ruby Jeanette

32

THIRTY-TWO


A birthday is important,
So I have one every year.
I get excited every time,
And never shed a tear.

'Cause you'll never know how long you have,
To celebrate your days,
I'm happy for each year I've had,
And every single age.



Here's to making them count~ Ruby Jeanette

Astound Your Friends!

When in doubt, tell the truth.  It will confound your enemies and astound your friends. ~ Mark Twain

It's not always easy to tell the truth.  Sometimes a family member or close friend asks us something.  The easy thing to do would be to lie to spare their feelings, or lie and tell them what they want to hear.  If a friend asks our advice about a certain situation, sometimes it would be much more convenient to tell them some gobbledy-gook about following their heart, or blah blah blah.  The truth of God's Word is not what people want to know with their question.  They really want someone to justify the way they are going , or the decisions they are making in life.  If we are honest, truly honest, most people know the answer to their question before they ask.  We know that we should be living right, talking right, and following the Lord.  We know that certain things are not good for us.  I never met a person who smoked who didn't know that cigarettes are bad for their health.  They know.  It's just that the truth is so inconveinent.  If we really are someone's friend, we will tell them the truth.  They may already know, but need some confirmation from someone else.  I don't want to stand before God one day, and have him say , "You should have told them the truth." In that day , we will find, that honesty really was the best policy.

Here's to always being honest~  Ruby Jeanette

A Day's Work

Ham and eggs~ A day's work for a chicken;  A lifetime commitment for a pig.


Work is hard! I guess if it wasn't ,we'd call it something different, something whimsical, like fun or playtime.  But  most people have jobs they don't like , dealing with people they can't really stand.  My dad was employed by the same company for almost thirty years.  He is a very smart, very capable individual.  He can weld, do maintenance, and build just about anything.  If it's broken , and he doesn't know how to fix it, it is well and truly broken.  But , he had bosses who were engineers, highly "educated" people.  These are the ones with the fancy papers on the walls of their offices. They seemed to think that their time was worth more than my dad's .  They made more money, and enjoyed more respect.  But the funny thing is , to them it was just a day's work.  I put in my hours , I go home.  But , to my dad, it was a lifetime commitment.  He always worked just as hard at quitting time as he did at the start of the day.  I never knew him to do less than his best at anything.  The thing that the highly educated engineers never got, is that he didn't work "for" them.  He worked for us.  My mother, my sister and me.  He wanted us to have the things we needed, and even some of the things we wanted.  And at the end of the day, he could say, that he really worked for himself.  To know that he had done his best, and was more a man for doing it under difficult circumstances, than those high dollar bosses would ever be.  It makes a difference; so  are you in your job for a day's work, or a lifetime commitment? 

Here's to being the best we can~ Ruby Jeanette

Do you have it, or does it have you?

How far away is nowhere?
Can I get there from here?
Would it take a long time , or none at all,
For me to get there?

I'd like to go there sometime,
And disappear away.
To have nothingness envelop me ,
To forget about this pain.

This illness overtakes me sometimes,
And covers up my life.
Steals my joy and happiness,
Robs away my rights.

I have to remind myself daily,
My soul has been set free.
Because my body might have lupus,
But lupus does not have me!


Here's to having it , but it not having you !  ~  Ruby Jeanette

Being good...

Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are good is like expecting the bull not to charge you because you are vegetarian.  ~ Dennis Wholer

Sometimes our world is a hurtful place to be,  and those who hurt us deepest are often our own family.  Those people close to us just seem to know how to place the barbs so  that they do the most damage.  I'm pretty much a "lay -it - all - out -there" kind of person.  If you hurt my feelings deeply, I don't mind telling you.  It's the way it should be.  Holding all the hurt inside just allows us to simmer all those feelings together until they become an ugly stew.  I would hope if I hurt someone they would come to me and say,  "That really hurt my feelings.  I would like an apology.  "  Or,  " I don't understand why you did that?  Can you explain?" If some one never tells you what the problem is, how can you fix it?  Maybe I don't even know that I said or did something that bothered you.  I would hope that we could work it out.  But , at least you wouldn't feel like you didn't get to explain why you were upset.  I never want to hurt anyone on purpose, but expecting everyone in the world to treat you fairly, or for your feelings to never be wounded is unrealistic.  It is how humans interact.  We don't always think before the words fly out, and we are not always attuned to others' emotions.  If someone has hurt you, then take the plunge,  tell them why,  and maybe they will say "I never realized!  I am so sorry!"  And if they don't , at least you don't have to be bitter inside anymore. Give that particular hurt to God ,and go on.

Here's to forgiveness~  Ruby Jeanette

Life

Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans.

I have seen this quote many times.  It's printed on bumper stickers and t-shirts and things like that.  I would have never guess who it was attributed to , though.  Sometimes things happen in our lives that we did not plan for.  An illness, a financial difficulty, or some other unforeseen circumstance.  We lose our footing, for a moment, and suddenly the world is spinning out of control.  We are easily drawn into that cesspool of negativity, and blame.  Blame for others, blame for God.  How dare He let this happen to me?! How dare those people treat me that way?! But really, we can 't blame God, and we certainly can't blame other people.  It is just life.  Life on a planet tainted with sin.  Life with people tainted with sin, ourselves included! We cannot expect life to go perfectly, when neither the earth , nor other people are perfect.  It is simply life. While we are busy being "lords" of our own lives , and making other plans,  life passes by.  God , in His infinite wisdom, has His own plan.  A plan that included salvation for all who ask, mercy for all who seek, and a Person to go to when our plan does not come together.  I am so very glad I asked the Master Planner to take charge of  my life!

Here's to giving up control~ Ruby Jeanette   Ps.  The quote belongs to John Lennon

Pierced ears, and lemonade

You know the hardest thing about having cerebral palsy, and being a woman?  It's plucking my eyebrows.  That's how I originally got pierced ears.  ~ Geri Jewell

 

If life hands you lemons,make lemonade.

Cerebral palsy is a terrible condition, so is lupus.  I have often thought about what my life might be like if I did not have lupus.  When I think about those things, it is usually in the context of how my life would be better.  I'd have more energy, I wouldn't get fevers, or come down with every bug that comes along.   I'd be able to go anywhere and not have to worry about the sun, or that the disease might flare up while I'm on vacation.  But, then , sometimes I think,  "If I did not have lupus, how might it change my life for the worse?" The worse , you say? How could you be worse off  without a disease?  I have discovered that in the course of this illness, over the last 12 years,  that there is an upside!  I have so much more compassion now.  Compassion for those in pain, and who are experiencing hardships.  I have so much more patience with the elderly and the weak.  I take time now to listen when someone says " Sometimes I don't know if I can make it through this."  I was not a very responsible kid, or a very patient one.  I was sometimes slow to realize when others had needs that outweighed my own.  And, although, I am by no means a perfect person these days, I realize that without the burden of lupus, I would not be the person I am.  I have learned and discovered so much about myself, and other people, then I ever would have without it.  So , sometimes, when a day seems especially hard, I remind myself that every situation in my life, God can use to make me into a better person.  Day by day, I am working on myself ,with His help.  Day by day, I hope to keep using my lemons to make lemonade!

Here's to the upside~ Ruby Jeanette

Be Specific!

All my life I wanted to be somebody.  I see now I should have been more specific.~ Jack Wagner

Are you who you want to be?  Most of the time, people are very unhappy with who they are.  They don't like themselves very much, which makes it very difficult to like others even a little.  If you think you are not a good enough person, it makes you put that feeling  on the people around you. And the problem with this situation, and people like that , is , that it is always someone else's fault that they feel that way, not theirs! They are not responsible for the way they feel , therefore they can be however they want to others and feel justified. The universe owes them , so to speak.   But , in reality, the only person responsible for the way I feel, think, and act, indeed, the very person I am , is ME.  I cannot cast blame on a single solitary person other than myself.  If I do not call on God to help me in a difficult situation with another person, it is no one's fault but mine.  If I let another's thoughts , or words ruin my day, it is not their fault, but mine alone.  If we want to grow up, and "be somebody", Be  Specific! God and I alone are in charge of  the way my life turns out.  Don't let other people choose who you turn out to be in life.   Be Specific! And choose every day to be a better person, the person YOU wanted to be.

Here's to making our own choices~Ruby Jeanette

Old- Fashioned

Our family had the most fun yesterday, that we have had together in a while.  We went out together into the woods behind our house, and cut down our own Christmas tree.  When I was a little kid , this was one of my favorite parts of  the holidays.  My  dad had this old '65 model Chevrolet truck, and he always knew someone with a patch of woods, where we could look.  I don't even remember what year we finally got an artificial tree, maybe when I was thirteen or fourteen years old.  It was kind of sad, actually, because we didn't do the family tradition anymore.  So, we decided to revive this holiday outing for our family.  Plus, one of the most fun things about a live tree, is that you have to do the homemade decoration thing, too.  You know the ones I mean, the paper rings,and the construction paper stars, and the popcorn strings.  What was funny about the whole situation yesterday is , that my kids have never had a live tree before.  So , this was a totally new experience for them.  They were so excited!  A real tree, from outside? And we get to put it inside the house?! Plus , spend hours with construction paper and scissors?  It was a Christmas dream come true, for them, and only cost a couple bucks for the paper and glue.  So , I remember what my favorite part about the whole tree tradition for me was.  It was the fact that I had my whole family all together for that time of cutting down and decorating. I don't remember the least expensive gift I ever received, and I don't remember the most expensive , either.  But, I remember an old truck, a cold day, and  a warm family. That is the best holiday memory of all.

Here's to the ones we remember most~ Ruby Jeanette

Some Really Weird Things

Here are some really weird things to be afraid of.  These were all listed on the complete list of phobias. 
Ailurophobia- fear of cats
Alliumphobia-fear of garlic
Bufonophobia-fear of toads
Chorophobia-fear of dancing
Euphobia- fear of hearing good news

Although, these might sound strange to us, these are all actual phobias.  There are people who are really afraid, of cats, garlic , toads ,dancing , and of hearing good news.  A phobia is not your regular version of fear, either.  A phobic will go to any length to avoid the activity, of object of their fear.   I am not crazy about tall buildings.  But, I wouldn't go screaming into the night if you asked me to go up one.  That's the difference between a fear and a phobia.  Fear is a powerful emotion, it causes a major physical response in the human body.  Fight, or, flight. In some instances,this is a protective reaction.  If you see a large bear , fear, and flight are good things. If you see a small house cat , not so much.  The funny thing about fear is it can become a habit. We start to fear the small things, and then it snowballs . Suddenly, the world is more scary then we can deal with.  But, the amazing news, is, God has a verses for just these situations.  He knew that we were frail creatures, in our own minds, easily given to negativity and fear. His Word is a powerful combatant to these thoughts!  Check out what He tells us in II Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear , but of power, and of love , and of a sound mind."
A sound mind is a wonderful gift!  Whenever you start to feel that creeping feeling of fear, these verses can help. 
Romans 8:15
1 John 4:18 and
Revelation 2:10

Here's to casting out fear~ Ruby Jeanette

Soon Enough

I never think of the future, it comes soon enough.

Can you guess who's quote this is?  I would never have guessed , if I had not seen it for myself.  The future sometimes seems like a scary place.  When you have a chronic disease, sometimes the next day is more than your body seems like it can handle.  The day you are in drags so far out ,that it seems to make tomorrow a far-off dream.  Pain is a funny thing, in that way.  A second turns into a minute, a minute turns into an hour, and the hours flow into an eternity of nothing but the awful thought that this will never go away.  But , it is the future that is the most frightening!  What if?  What if it's always this way?  What if I never get any better?  What if it gets even worse? What if?  What if?  This is future thinking.  The study of physics is actually pretty interesting.  Time and space, and the mechanics of these things.  The thing is the earth is turning 1000 miles an hour, rotating around the sun at a speed of 67,000 miles per hour.  Every day, all day, the Lord keeps us attached to the planet, and we don't fly off.  We never think about it, because it just is.  But, we can worry over the next ten minutes, or ten days, concerned that the Lord is falling down on His job.  But, time, space, and the mechanics of our lives and souls, is His domain!  This is why He created us!  Not to watch us suffer in time, but because in time, we come to realize how very much He cares. I don't know why some things are hard.  I don't know why it isn't always worked out the way I want.  But, I know that the Master of all Time, and Space, holds me in a hand , large enough to spin the Earth, but small enough to keep me safe from anything that might pull me away from Him.  The future, any future, is only a moment , compared to the eternity that He bought and paid for!

Here's to eternity~Ruby Jeanette   P.s.  The quote is from Albert Einstein

Then.Now, and Later

No longer forward nor behind
I look, in hope and fear;
But grateful take the good I find,
The best of now and here.   ~ John Greenleaf Whittier

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery.
But today, is a gift , and that is why it is called the Present.~ Master Oogway

Where do you live?  I don't mean your town, or house, or address.  But, where do you live in your thoughts?  Do you live in tomorrow, with fear of what might happen?  Or do you maybe live in yesterday, with regret of what has already been?  Do you live in the future, with hope that things will be better?  Or do you live in the past , and think, "Nothing was like the good old days!" What are your thoughts, and hopes for right now? Not ten minutes from now, or even five minutes from now?  Stop, and ask yourself, what it is it that I want this moment to be? In all reality, this second, this is all we have.  We are not guaranteed one more moment here, in this world.  And as much as I look forward to living in Heaven, with my loved ones, and greatest of all the Lord Jesus Christ, I cannot live in that future either.  We must make the most of this single second.  If we live our live either in the past, which cannot be changed, or the future, which cannot be controlled by us, we will have wasted one of the most precious gifts we were ever given; the chance to change the very present  moment that we are in right now. 

Here's to this very second~ Ruby Jeanette

HOW TO GET INTO HEAVEN

A man dies and meets Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates.  He says to the man, "Here's how it works.  You need 100 points to get into Heaven.  You tell me about all the good things you've done.  They are all worth a certain number of points.  If your total of points is 100 or more, you can come in."
"O.k.," says the man.  "I've been happily married to a wonderful woman for 52 years.  I was always faithful, and never looked at another woman."
"Great!",said Saint Peter,"that's worth two points!"
"Two points?!",exclaims the man. "This will may be harder than I thought!"
"O.k.," said the man," I was a faithful church -goer, and paid my tithe every week."
"Wonderful! One point for you!" , says Saint Peter.
"Only one?", the man said.
"O.k,O.k, how about this then?", the man asks, "I was in prison ministry for 25 years.  Every month , I went to the prisoners and told them about Jesus. "
"Two points more!", Saint Peter declares.
"My goodness!",exclaims the man.  "At this rate , it will be by the grace of God, if I ever get in!"
"BINGO! ", Saint Peter yells.  "100 Points! You may now enter heaven!"

Here's to the power of grace~ Ruby Jeanette

Did You Ever Wonder?

Did you ever wonder?
If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill themselves, is it considered a hostage situation?
Did you ever wonder?
Is there another word for synonym?
Did  you  ever wonder?
When sign makers go on strike, what do they paint on their signs?
Did you  ever wonder?
Where do forest rangers go to get away from it all?
Did you ever wonder?
Why do they lock gas station bathrooms?  Are they afraid someone will clean them?
Did you ever wonder?
When it rains, Why don't sheep shrink?
Did you ever wonder?
If a turtle doesn't have a shell, is he homeless, or naked?
Did you ever wonder?
Why is the word abbreviation so long?


Just For Laughs~
Here's to a little more wondering~Ruby Jeanette

Saddle Up!

Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway~ John Wayne

When I found out I had lupus, I was scared to death.  Many things were happening at the same time.  They were taking my first son, by c-section, after a routine doctor visit, we were in Little Rock, away from family and friends.  They told us they did not expect our son to live, and that if he did he would have brain damage.  He had what they call 3rd degree AV block , a serious condition where the AV nerve in the heart is completely damaged and cannot cause the heart muscle to "fire" as often as it should.  I asked how this could happen?  "You have an auto-immune disease," the doctor said," it is attacking your son , as a foreign object in your body." I think perhaps I have never been more frightened , confused,and angry.  Why was I angry? Not at God, but at myself , for the doctors had just said my own body  was killing my unborn child.  "We must take him now, " the doctor told me.  "His oxygen is decreasing , and he will die."  Then the doctor asked something I didn't hear.  "What did you say?", I asked.  "What do you want to do?",is what he had asked.  "Let's go."  ,I said.  I suppose this was the biggest "Saddle up!"moment in my life.  I'm sure others have had something like this.  Maybe it wasn't a health issue, or a decision about your child.  There are so many things in life that require us, to not necessarily lay down our fear, but to cover it in an armour of courage, and go on.  We don't have time in that moment to do anything else.  I hope that I never have to deal with anything like that particular situation again.  But, if I do, I pray for courage, not to be afraid, but in my fear, to saddle up anyway.

Here's to faith in the face of fear~ Ruby Jeanette

Long, and Not So Long

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do  than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbour.  Catch the trade winds in your sails... Do it now! Why? ... Well, just because... Dream Explore Action Discover~Mark Twain

Life is short , and you are a long time dead.  ~ Irish proverb


Sometimes I disappoint myself with the things I do.  I  have in mind  a certain thing, and then I end up doing something completely different.  I have a bad habit of a doing the opposite of what's expected of me, out of contrariness.  I don't intentionally do it.  It's just I have a problem with what might be other people's ideas of where I should be headed.  I always figured , me and God , had it pretty well worked out.  But, I think maybe Mr. Twain had it right.  He's always been an inspiration to me.  He lived how he wanted, and pretty much didn't care what other people thought about it.  But , for him to say we will be more disappointed in the things we didn't do, then the things we did, speaks to me.  Maybe , not necessarily turning into a people pleaser, because I could never turn into one of those, but thinking more from the other person's side of the page.  Sail in their direction, sometimes , instead of always, having to be the captain. I do want to dream, explore, action, discover.  But, I don't want to mow people down to do it.  Life is short, and people are important.  They matter, and when you are a long time dead, they are the ones who keep the memory of you.  Not your experiences, or your discoveries, or your exploration. If the people who came into contact with you don't remember you, and remember you well, you are a long time dead indeed.

Here's to living well~ Ruby Jeanette

In the Sand

Write the bad things that are done to you in the sand , but write the good things that happen you on a piece of marble~ Arabian wisdom

Has anyone ever said anything to hurt you?  I mean, not the kind of hurt where, say tomorrow, you can laugh about it, but the kind of hurt, that 10 years since that moment, you can remember where you were, what you were wearing, and in vivid detail the words , and the tone with which they were said?  That kind of hurt has been written in marble.  Now , think about something awesome that happened to you, the kind of thing where 70 years after that moment, you can still feel the joy,  excitement,  and surprise.  You know exactly what that memory holds!  That memory is carved in marble , too.  But, why do we have a monument for our greatest hurt, that also holds our greatest joy?  Why does the joy have to share the spotlight?  Sand is very fleeting, and very unstable.  Blown about by the wind, it goes from where it is , to somewhere else very quickly.  Marble on the other hand is very stable, very solid.  There is marble here on earth from many thousands of years ago.  Now , think about the two memories.  Where will you put the terrible memory ?  Will you leave it on the marble, to stay forever?  Thousands of years from now, it will still be there?  Or will you write it in the sand , to be blown forever away, shifted into a million pieces that have no hold on you anymore?  I wrote a deep hurt of my own, in the New Mexico desert sand.  Where it is now, I can longer say.  Scattered somewhere, for only God to know.  I choose.  I choose to leave my sorrow in the sands , and carve my greatest joys on a marble pylon, for everyone to see.

Here's to letting go~ Ruby Jeanette

The Sparrow

Broken upon the ground,
neck bent to look upwards
at the sky ,
wondering,
Do birds wonder why?

HE knows the sparrows,
where and when
they fall
Faltering,
HE can see them all.

Broken inside this body,
eyes lowered to look down,
at the earth,
Praying,
HE can hear my words.

HE knows my pain,
days and nights,
the despair,
covering and taking away,
my wings.

Broken upon HIS altar,
spent and given,
am I not worth more
than any sparrow?
Sweet release,
resting in HIS arms-
I Soar.

Ruby Jeanette

A Mystery

I do not understand the mystery of grace--only that it meets us where we are, but does not leave us where it found us. -Anne LaMott


For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of the light.  Ephesians 5:8

Oh! To be changed!  To know that where we were, and who we were is left solidly in the past, where it can not be touched!  And to know that where we are, and who we are , is a new peson, a new creation, walking forward in a new direction, this is truly a mystery.  But , how is this great mystery accomplished?  Only by grace.  And , not just anyone's grace.  The grace of God, which is so far beyond our understanding it can only be called a mystery.  And to know that this miracle is available, every time we need it, certainly not to be abused, but when we fall , is a bigger mystery still. How can God hold so much compassion, love, mercy, and grace?  I do not know, but it is enough for me that He can, He does, and He is God.

Here's to the power of God- Ruby Jeanette

Learning to Live

If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live-
Lin Yutang

When was the last time you spent the afternoon in a completely useless manner? Not all activity in life has to have some super important purpose. Children are the ultimate example of this. Most of their activity seems completely useless from an adult's perspective. I mean , really, what is the use of puddle-hopping, frog -catching, and snow -ball fighting? We as grown-ups have mostly forgotten that the whole point is, there isn't any point! It's just fun, and sometimes, we all need an afternoon like that!


Here's to finding a new use for a "useless" activity- Ruby Jeanette

Success

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty ; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better; whether by a healthy child, a  garden patch  or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, This is to have succeeded.-  Emerson

How do you measure success in your life?  Is it the amount of money you have, the status of your job, or even the status of your children? If you have a lot of money , status , and popularity are you truly successful?
How does God describe success?  By two rules.  The greatest commandment is this , Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind , and with all thy strength.  And the second is like unto it,  Love thy neighbor as thyself.   The extent to which we have followed these commandments will be how our true success is measured. 

Here's to measuring up-  Ruby Jeanette

Time Saved?

Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save-
Will Rogers

Hurry!Hurry!Hurry!  That must be our slogan here in America.  Every where I go , people are rushing.  They pass you on the highway, they pass you in the Wal-Mart aisle, they pass you on the street.  Wherever these people are headed, surely it will still be there in ten minutes, twenty minutes, or even tomorrow for that matter.  I'm all for everyone living life to the fullest, but does that mean cramming every moment of every day with some type of activity, for us, or our children?  I can tell you , the moments I most remember in my life, had nothing to do with being in a hurry.  Sitting quietly in the woods with my Daddy, sitting quietly in the garden with my Grandpa on a plastic bucket next to me.  We were planting tomatoes, we didn't have to rush, we didn't even have to talk to each other to be enjoying ourselves.  Just being there was enough.  Can you think of the last moment you had like that?  The time slipped away, and it didn't matter that town was in a hurry, or that there were appointments to keep, only that place you were then counted. I hope I can make time for more empty spaces in my life.  Empty, so that I can fill them up, with slow-flowing times with the people I love.   

Here's to living slowly- Ruby Jeanette

Perfected

Practice makes perfect.  Just be careful what you re practicing.

We practice every day, without even realizing it.  We practice actions, thoughts, and sometimes the most harmful, we practice our words.  We practice in our minds the hurtful things that we will do , or say, in retaliation to other people.  There is research that shows , it takes repetition of a task , thirteen times in order for it to become a habit.  So , just imagine how much easier our brain picks up a train of thought and makes it repetitive.  It is very easy to focus on the negative, in the world, and in the happenings around us.  Sometimes , positivity takes more effort.  I'm trying to work every day , to make loving words, gentle thoughts, and compassionate actions , the habit of my life. 

Here's to Practice,Practice, Practice- Ruby Jeanette

A Burden?

The sparrow is sorry for the  peacock at the burden of his tail.-Tagore

Are you happy the way you are?  Most of us are not. We'd rather be skinnier, wealthier, taller, have a bigger house, or have more expensive clothes.  The problem is not necessarily with these things.  Or even in the wanting of these things.  The problem lies in the fact that when we receive these things, they become a burden. What? You say that more money, and the things it buys can be a burden?  Yes! The sparrow is just a small,seemingly insignificant animal, and yet God knows when a single one falls.  But sparrows live simply, and are not flashy birds.  They do not have feathers that scream "Look at me!" When a person looks at us, we should not be so burdened with the pursuit of these things, that the only thing they see are peacock feathers. Being a plain sparrow puts the focus on Jesus, where He can shine through us!

Here's to the pursuit of Christ-Ruby Jeanette

Accumulation of Wisdom

We do ourselves and others a disservice when we make old age somethig to be feared.  Life is not a resource to be used up, so that the older we get, the less life we have left.  Life is the accumulation of wisdom, love and experience, of people encountered, an obstacls overcome.  The longer we live, the more life we possess. -Rabbi Harold Kushner

Old age is definitely not an appreciated quality in this country.  In Japan, Africa, and many other countries, the elderly are revered for their experiences and the knowledge and wisdom they have of life. We despise the fact that the old  and infirm remind us of our mortality, so we hide them away.  We are terrified to look at the ending of our young existence, and so we put the aged out of our minds, and go on dealing with life as if this will never happen to us. 60 year old women inject deadly poisons into their face to paralyze their wrinkles, 50 year old women have their necks sliced so that they can flatten out their skin, 40 year old women want breast augmentation, and 30 year olds need surgery to deal with their supposed imperfections.  And yet , not a single one of these procedures increases our knowledge, our wisdom, or our compassion.  Gone is the Grandma with the white hair, and the character has gone down the drain with the hair dye. Gone is the Grandma with the calloused garden hands,  and the wisdom of the earth went into the manicurist's nail polish bottle.  Gone is the Grandma with the counsel of one married 50,60, or even 70 years, and now arriving is the grandma ,divorcing and going to find herself.  What really matters is this,  the young are to blame for the current state of the elderly.  We wanted a more superficially beautiful world, so that we did not have to look at the ugliness of old age.  Well, we should have been careful what we wished for, for now they have taken us at our word, and grandmothers are no longer our guides, our mentors, our shoulders to cry on.  Now they have become us, and we have found ourselves adrift in a new, strange, and dangerous sea.

Here's to valuing the elderly-Ruby Jeanette

To Be Rich

To know you have enough, is to be rich....count your blessings.

Having enough is a wonderful thing.  Today's world is all about excess.  We all want to be wealthy beyond imagining, beautiful beyond expectation, and popular beyond celebrity.  But, in reality, "enough" is a saving grace.  Enough food to live, enough money to survive , and the beauty and popularity categories are really not even important. I count myself so very blessed to belong in the "enough" category.  We have even been given "enough" to bless others sometimes! So, every time we start to think, I sure would like to have more, let's be sure we are thanking God for the enough that we already have.

Here's to counting your blessings-Ruby Jeanette

The Age We Are

We are always the same age on the inside.- Gertrude Stein

If you could pick any age to be right now, what age would you choose?  Some people would probably like to go back to being younger, and the younger would probably like to be all grown up.  But, if I could pick any age to be, I would still choose to be the one I am now.  I wouldn't go back to being a teen ager for all the money in the  world, and I don't want to be any older.  I like being right here, right now. I feel like every age I have been has prepared me to be the person, and the age I am right now.  I was a pretty decent kid, I think I'm a fairly good 30-ish person, and by the time I'm old , I hope I'm great!  Let's all try to make the most of the place, person, and age we are in this moment, and maybe every day we'll get a little bit better!

Here's to today being our greatest yet- Ruby Jeanette

Two Evils

Constantly choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing evil.- Jerrry Garcia

Have  you ever heard someone say , of a certain situation, "I had to do that, I had no other choice." ? I've never really understood that statement.  I've been in some terrible situations, as I'm sure a lot of you have.  But, I think what people mean is, the other choice to them is unchoosable.  There are always other things we can choose, they may not be easy, they may require hard work,or changing our lives in ways that seem impossible, but with God's help we can choose to do well, to do right, to do what seems undoable.  Let us pray , that in every situation, God gives us the strength to do the impossible, the right, the worthy, not the lesser of two evils, but no evil at all!

Here's to making right choices- Ruby Jeanette

What are you full of?

When we get full of ourselves, we get empty of God.

The world is set up for instant gratification of self.  We are constantly surrounded with the notion that we are the most important person on the planet.  What do we want, what are we feeling, what is important to us, what is our dream, what is our goal, what can we get for ourselves today?  What about me? Who will care about , and for me?  This is a major cause of unhappiness , this inward focus on self.  We become so full of self, and our inner souls become like greedy two year olds, who have those lovely hissie fits when the world doesn't go their way! It is very easy to get this way. I have to remember to fill my life up with God, and place my focus on others' needs. Because, being full of only ourselves, actually makes us pretty empty people.

Here's to having God -Full lives- Ruby Jeanette

The most interesting information

The most interesting information comes from children , for they tell all they know and then stop. ~ Mark Twain

Children have the most fun in life I think , because they don't have a set view of the world yet.  Every day brings them a new opportunity to change the way they see things, and to learn something new.  As adults we pretty much get set in our opinions , and don't take time to learn about other people, or places, because we have it all figured out already! Children don't mind sharing what they know with anyone, and are always anxious to find out what someone else might think about it.  I have a lot of fun listening to my kids ideas about people, places, things , and just the way the world goes around.  If you ever get a chance , ask a kid under the age of 12 what they think of a particular subject, and get ready to be surprised , amazed , and entertained! 
Here's to a more child-like view of the world- Ruby Jeanette